Unified Payments Interface (UPI) makes it easy to send and receive money, but scammers exploit rushed decisions, fake customer-care accounts and misleading payment requests. The safest habit is to pause, verify the recipient and never reveal your UPI PIN or OTP to another person.
Know the difference between paying and receiving
A UPI PIN authorises a payment from your account. You do not need to enter your PIN simply to receive money. Be suspicious if someone claiming to send a refund, prize or sale proceeds asks you to scan a QR code and enter your PIN to “collect” money. Read the payment screen: it may authorise money to leave your account.
Common warning signs
- Unexpected collect requests: A request arrives unexpectedly and pressures you to approve it immediately.
- QR-code tricks: A stranger says scanning a code is required to receive money. Check the payee and amount shown in your UPI app.
- Fake support agents: Someone asks for your PIN, OTP, screen-sharing access or remote-control app to “fix” a payment.
- Fake payment screenshots: A buyer shows an image instead of letting you confirm the credit in your own account.
- Urgency and threats: A caller warns that your account will be blocked unless you act now.
Protect yourself before paying
- Use the official UPI app downloaded from a trusted app store and keep it updated.
- Verify the recipient’s name/UPI ID and amount on the payment screen. Stop if anything looks wrong.
- Never share your UPI PIN, bank password, OTP or screen lock, including with someone claiming to be a bank employee.
- Do not install apps or share your screen at an unsolicited caller’s request.
- Turn on bank alerts and review transactions regularly.
The Reserve Bank of India advises customers never to share PINs, passwords, OTPs or UPI PINs and to avoid banking on open public networks. NPCI also advises checking the payee and amount before completing a UPI transaction.
If you suspect fraud
Contact your bank and UPI app through their official app or website immediately. For suspected financial cyber fraud in India, call 1930 as soon as possible and report at the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. Keep transaction IDs, timestamps, bank messages and screenshots. For more guidance, read NewsNationOnline’s guide to reporting online fraud in India and visit the official National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
Official sources
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